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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Immanuel Kant: Critique of Pure Reason-Space and Time

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) believed that both
experience and reason are necessary to make knowledge. One without the other
does not work well creating situations whereby reason alone is not weighed in
time, while experience, without reason, is limited as an in-depth analysis.
Kant’s work The Critique of Purse Reason (1781) delves into the nature of
thought.

He makes a distinction between a priori knowledge
and a posterior knowledge. A posterior knowledge is that which we gain from
experience while a priori knowledge is that which we gain from the universal
truths of reason. Scientific knowledge is gained from a priori/analytic reason
while experience is gained from a posterior/synthetic reason.

Kant also moves into the concept of time and space
as part of the a priori constructs of the mind. Just like cause and effect is
important to understanding so is space and time. It is a process of
experiencing the world and making some order out of it. Without cause and
effect along with space and time, it will be difficult to make meaning out of
the phenomena we experience every day.

Reason can improve upon the overall process of
understanding. By reflecting and examining the various components that make up
logical thought formations we have the ability to improve upon them. As we manipulate our environment, we also gain
more information that adds to our logical thought formations.

When we have gained a stronger internal representation
of external phenomenon we can say we are using reason and knowledge. This
combination affords maximum understanding of our environment. It is a process
of continual learning whereby each age can provide higher platforms of reason
and knowledge use.

Intuitions are based within experience. Some
psychologists argue that intuitions are instant knowledge drawn from subconscious
process. It is the subconscious data that connects and reconnects to make
meaning out of its environment. At times, an instant thought or concept can
come forward as a solution called intuition.

Immanuel Kant contributed to concepts of human
intelligence, psychology, philosophy, and metaphysics. Many other studies have
been conducted that back up his arguments. That does not mean he does not have
critics but that as a vantage point his philosophies appear to be as valid as
any others are.